MoD to invite foreign bids to run British procurement

Buying and maintaining equipment for Britain’s Armed Forces could be handed over to private companiesTimes Photographer, Richard Pohle

Private industry, including foreign firms, will be allowed to run the multibillion-pound organisation that buys and maintains Britain’s warships, helicopters and all military kit under a plan set to be approved by the Ministry of Defence today.

Bernard Gray, the official in charge of the MoD’s procurement arm, will deliver his final recommendation at a meeting of top brass on how to reform Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), which has long been criticised for failing to complete projects on time and on budget.

Expectations are growing that the MoD’s governing body, the defence board, will give the first clear signal that they agree with Mr Gray’s plan to turn DE&S into a so-called Government Owned, Contractor Operated (GOCO) entity — a world first for the highly…